Police seize dozens of newly illegal drugs

Officers raided a dozen shops in Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield this morning and took away 155 packets of drugs which were legal highs, but have been reclassified as Class A drugs.

It comes just three days after Government changes to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 saw controlled synthetic opioids which are LSD-related compounds and Tryptamines, including compounds commonly known as AMT and 5-MeO-DALT, become Class A drugs.

No one was arrested, but staff were advised of the change in the law.

It comes as part of Operation Nightshot, which was launched in Leeds in December 2012, and has seen a number of landmark prosecutions against high street ‘head shops’.

Detective Constable Jamie Hudson said: “Within days of these substances being made illegal we have attended at shops known to sell these kind of items and ensured that any products potentially containing these banned chemicals have been removed from sale with the public’s protection in mind.

“There is a misconception that products being sold as ‘legal highs’ are therefore safe when in fact they can be extremely dangerous with the chemicals that have just been classified as Class A drugs being linked to a number of deaths elsewhere in the country.

“Anyone who trades in psychoactive substances or paraphernalia associated with drug use or supply should be aware that it is their responsibility to keep up to date with any changes in legislation. Ignorance is not a defence and we will take action where it is suspected that criminal offences are being committed.”